In an effort to get motorists to slow down through Waipawa’s main street, a number of road safety signs featuring local school children have been installed.
In all 10 school children feature on the signs, which also have messages such as “Remember the speed limit”, “Drive like your kids live here”, and “Please slow down for my safety” on them.
The initiative came via local parents and schoolteachers, following concerns about speeds through Waipawa’s township.
The signs are dotted along both sides of High Street.
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Further thunderstorms are expected for Central Hawke’s Bay later today.
For the past three days in a row, the Metservice has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the region, and while CHB by and large escaped on Monday and Tuesday, thunderstorms yesterday afternoon caused surface flooding in some parts of the district.
Today’s forecast is for afternoon and evening showers, some heavy and possibly thundery inland.
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The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is working with a number of parties on both short and long-term solutions for the reopening of Kairakau Road.
The road was closed last weekend following significant and unexpected road movement, caused by a deluge of heavy rain at the end of last week.
The Council says the best and most efficient short-term solution for the safe reopening is likely to be the build of a new section of road, around the slip.
Council has engaged specialist geotechnical drilling equipment as part of its investigation and is working with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on funding.
Chief Executive Monique Davidson says Council is continuing to focus on immediate short term access solutions for school children, medium-term temporary access for light vehicles and long-term permanent reinstatement of a two lane road.
She says Kairakau Road is an important route for many residents and the impact of the road closure is severe.
Mrs Davidson says Council teams are in touch with community groups and organisations, including Elsthorpe School and emergency services, and vulnerable residents to ensure no one’s wellbeing is compromised.
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A number of incentives are on offer for those getting their first or second COVID shot this coming weekend.
The “Second Shot Weekend” will see a drive-in clinic at the CHB A & P Showgrounds in Waipukurau on Saturday, in addition to the normal vaccination clinics.
Anyone getting the vaccine on Saturday will go in the draw for Six60 concert tickets, new iPhones and Prezzy cards, and everyone who gets jabbed will receive a $20 voucher.
Hawke’s Bay DHB spokesperson Chris McKenna said Hawke’s Bay had the highest turnout in the country per-head of population on Super Saturday more than three weeks ago and is hoping the Second-Shot Weekend will be just as successful.
More than 100,000 people are fully vaccinated in Hawke’s Bay, equating to 75 percent of our eligible population, with 86 percent having had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Hawke’s Bay’s Māori population also achieved the 70 percent milestone of people having had at least one dose of the vaccine this week.
Mrs McKenna said the region is seeing great uptake of the vaccine, but we still have further to go to reach the 90 percent milestone.
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Today is Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the First World War in 1918 at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Local Armistice Day commemorations are being held in the following places :
CHB :
Waipukurau – assemble at the Waipukurau Cenotaph at 10.50am.
Waipawa – assemble at the Waipawa Cenotaph at 10.50am.
Tararua :
Dannevirke : assemble at the Dannevirke Cenotaph at 10.50am.
Pahiatua – assemble at the Cenotaph at 10.45am.
Norsewood – assemble at the Cenotaph at 10.50am.
